Facially-supported lighting device.



No. 669,949. Y Patented Mar. I2, I90I.

J. B. UNDERWOOD.

FACIALLY SUPPURTED LIGHTING DEVICE.

(Applicatian led July 7, 1899.)

(lo Model.)l

Wl TNE SSE S UNITED STPJFESx PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH B. UNDERWOOD, OF FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNO OF ONE-HALF T0 JAMES REID WILLIAMS, OF SAME PLACE.

FACIALLY-SUPPORTED LIGHTING DEVICE.

/ SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 669,949, dated. March 12, 190i.

Application filed July '7, 1899. Serial No. 728,099. (No model.) l

To alt whom t may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOSEPH B. UNDERWooD, residing at Fayetteville, in the county of Cumberland and State of North Carolina, have invented a Facially-Supported Lighting Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its purpose to pro-4 vide a simple and economically-constructedV A(a magazine of a vessel, for example) where it would be dangerous to carry an ordinary lighting means.

This invention consists in a device `of the character stated, comprising certain combinations and novel arrangements of parts,`

all of which will be first described and then pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l illustrates one form of my lighting device, showing a method of applying the same to the head of the user and also showing one way of supporting the battery. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of one of the light-globes. Fig. 3 illustrates my device arranged on'the plan of a pair of spectacles. Fig. 4 is a-crosssection of a modified form of one of the annular lighting-globes. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of one of the globes, the same being constructed to support an eyeglass or lens. Fig. 6 illustrates my invention arranged as a combined eyeglass and lighting device. y Fig. 7 is a section of the same, taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a view illustrating one manner of using my invention, and Fig. 9 is a detail view of a modied form hereinafter referred to.

In its practical application my invention embodies a pair of lamp-globes, preferably of annular shape and connected in such a manner -as to be conveniently supported upon the face, over the eyes of the user.

In its simplest form the entire device is made up of glass, as shown in Fig.-3, the twd annular globes 1 1 being joinedfbya hollow bridge or supporting piece 2. the globes 1 1 have integrally formed there'- with the extensions la l, to which the spring;`

metal bows 3 3 are pivotally connected in any approved manner. The diameter of the globe may vary in accordance with the charac'- ter of the illuminant used within it; butin all cases the size of the globe is such as to form In this form.

proper sight-openings for the eye and also ad- L mit of the globe being held in close proximity thereto.

In the construction shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3 the filament 5 is passed into the end of one of the globes, bent annularly to extend entirely around the internal space of the globe,

then passed through the hollow bridge-piece, theninto and around the internal space of the other globe,and then to the outside thereof, it being understood the terminals of the filament are sealed and the globe by preference being a vacuum-globe, the same as in the ordinary form of incandescent lamps.

When electrical energy is used, I prefer to employ a storage battery for supplying the current. This battery may be arranged in any form whereby it can be conveniently carried by the user. It may be made of a shape to form a head-supported battery, as shown in Fig. 1, or a pocket-battery, as shown in Fig. 8. `In either case a switch 6 is provided for breaking the battery-circuit.

rTo permit of using a very low power current, whereby to keep the globes from becoming Iheated to any perceptible degree, to obtain a high illumination from a minimum light-power, and also to provide for cutting 0F any back light-rays from the eye and to place the illuminant practically in a direct line of vision, I provide a shield for each lamp-globe, the rear face of which renders the rear portion of the globes opaque, its forwardly-facing portion being highly polished or otherwise treated to produce a powerful retlector-surface. t

In the simplest form of my invention, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the back halves of the globes are covered with mercury and mirrored, as indicated by 7. This reflects the IOO light through the front wall of the glass-holder f* in a line essentially direct. with the lineof vision.

Instead of mirroring the back of the glass globe the said globe proper may be fitted into a metal frame 8 vin the shape of a loupe, said frame having a rear or eye dportion provided with an opaque interior an a forwardly-extending portion aunularly enlarged and su-rrounding` the sight-aperture X. This front portion of the frame has its-innersurface highly polished to form a reflector, and to provide for conveniently holding the globes 1 in place, each frame 8 has its forward 'r' reliector portion formed with an annular seat 8 to receive the lamp-globe, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. When used in this form, the forward end of the frame 8 may carry a lens 9 of a diameter sufficient to take in not only the lines of vision, but also the reflected lightrays, and if desired to provide a telescopic result the second lens may be inserted in the sight-aperture, as shown by dotted lines at X' in the said Fig. 4.

While I prefer to employ an electrical energy for the lamp, yet it is not absolutely necessary, as other illuminating means might be employed-as, for. example, a core projected through the lamp-globes having a phosphorous or other highly illuminous covering.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown another form of my invention. In this form I have shown the same in the nature of a pair of eyeglasses,l the frame l0 of which is of a non-conducting material, such as hard rubber, and provided .with a spring-bridge, whereby the device may be adjusted upon the nose like the ordinary eyeglass..l The frame 10 has its eye portions made semicircular in cross-section to form annular pockets l0 to receive the glass globes l l, which are cemented or otherwise secured therein and have their light-filaments connected to the battery carried by the user, said pockets 10 having their inner annular edges terminating with lip or rim portions 10h to receive the lens 1l, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. In this latter form of my invention it is intended the globes be mirrored at the rear to' form strong reflecting-surfaces, and when they are so arranged the form of my device just explained will be especially advantageous for use in reading in the dark.

When the form shown in Fig. 3 is intended to also b`e used as an ordinary pair of spectacles, the globes have rimslc, blown or otherwise formed ,integrally therewith, (see Fig. 5,) which form supporting portions against which to cement the lens.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the advantages of my invention will be at once understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 4 1. A device for the purposes described,com prising a pair of tubular casings joined by a tubular bridge-piece the whole being formed of glass; a source of electrical energy adapted to be 'carried on the person of the user; a filament held in the casings, passed through the bridge-piece and having its terminals counected with the carried electrical energy.

2. Adeviceforthe purposesstated,compris ing a casing having a sight-aperture and a rearwardly-extending guard or loupe portion opaque on its inner surface, said casing having an annular pocket-like portion surroundingthesight-opening; aforwardly-extending portion, said forwardly-extending portion having its inner surface highly polished to form a reflector; an annular glass globe seating in the annular pocket, said globe carrying a source of illuminating energy, substantially as shown and described.

3. A new article of manufacture, comprising a pair of annular tubular globes in the nature of incandescent lamps, said globes beingjoined bya tubular bridge-piece, the whole being formed of glass, said lamps having their rear portions mirrored, whereby to deflect the rays of light in a line forwardly direct with the line of vision, the outer surface of the said mirrored portions being made opaque whereby to protect the eyes; and a battery adapted to be carried upon the body of the user connected with the lamps, all being arranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

JOSEPH UNDERWOOD.

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